Abstract
Utilizing the action of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and try panblue, studies weres made on the influence of carbohydrates on the hemolysin production of Streptococcus hemolyticus. In the present study, a total of 51 standard and isolated strains of Lanceield's Groups A, B, C, D and G were used.
Antihemoiytic action of carbohydrate appeared to be most evident when the group A strains were used in combination with glucose on the blood agar medium, but this action was not so much evident in the fluid medium and glucose was most effective when applied in its pure form. Production of hemolysin was favoured by the addition of RNA in the case of group A strains, but this action seerned to be inactivated by the presence of glucose. Trypanblue was found to react much more intensely than glucose on the strains other than those of group A. Its antihemolytic action was remarkable even when it was used immediately before titration demonstrating a considerable difference from the influence of glucose.
By the antihemolytic activity on group A strains, carbohydrates were divided into 3 Groups, namely, Group I (glucose, fructose, mannose, maltose, sucrose), Group II (lactose, galactose, mannitol), Group III (rhamnose, raffinose, arabinose, xylose, inulin, sorbitol, trehalose, melibiose) .
Generally, this grouping of carbohydrates was likewise applicable for the other groups of streptococcal strains.
Antihemolytic zone was recognized at low dilutions in hemolysin titration of the fluid culture containing glucose and RNA. It was found, further, that in comparison with that in plain broth culture, the so-called nucleic acid effect on hemolysin production was effected by the presence of glucose in the blood agar broth culture. Differentiation of group A streptococci described by Kobayashi et al can be attained by their hemolytic reactions on the glucose, glucose and RNA, RNA and control blood agar plates more precisely.
To simplily this procedure, so-called PSAD-method (patch on the stab in agar disk) was addopted. Namely, in a set of 4 different combinations, glucose, RNA and control paper patches were placed on a small blood agar disk in a petridish which was stabbed with organismus by the use of needle and incubated for a over night. Patches were removed immediately before reading results.
